Creating a new eye drop to relieve acute corneal pain

Development of a safe and effective topically administered pharmacotherapy to treat acute corneal pain

NIH-funded research Vyluma INC. · NIH-10818018

This study is testing a new eye drop made from pregabalin to help relieve severe corneal pain, aiming to provide a safer option for people who currently have limited treatments available.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 1 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVyluma INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Bridgewater, United States)
Project IDNIH-10818018 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a topical medication to treat acute corneal pain, which is often severe and currently lacks effective FDA-approved treatments. The study aims to create a formulation of pregabalin that can be applied directly to the eye, minimizing side effects associated with existing pain relief options. By identifying the minimum effective dose of this new eye drop, the research seeks to provide a safer alternative to traditional pain medications that can cause complications like corneal melt or increased intraocular pressure. Patients may be involved in trials to assess the effectiveness and safety of this new treatment.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing acute corneal pain, particularly those who have not found relief with current treatments.

Not a fit: Patients with chronic corneal conditions or those who do not experience acute corneal pain may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safe and effective treatment option for patients suffering from acute corneal pain.

How similar studies have performed: While topical pregabalin has shown promise in preliminary studies for treating acute corneal pain, this specific formulation is novel and has not yet been tested in clinical trials.

Where this research is happening

Bridgewater, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.